BACOLOD City – The City of Bacolod has renewed its commitment in supporting the national government’s campaign against illegal drugs through its participation in the two-day “Rehabinasyon: The 1st National Anti-Drugs Summit” at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who is among the select mayors attending the event until Monday, said the summit is a rare opportunity that provides Bacolod with a holistic picture of the drug rehabilitation program of the administration.

“The leading anti-illegal drugs agencies have organized this to make a more comprehensive approach in their intention to rehabilitate and reintegrate the victims back to society,” said the mayor, who was joined in the summit by executive assistant Samuel Montoyo, the city’s focal person on the anti-drug abuse campaign.

In March 2018, Bacolod hosted the launching of “Rehabinasyon,” a holistic approach in eliminating the country’s drug problem that puts premium on the rehabilitation of drug surrenderees, which was attended by about 400 people.

Bacolod then was one of the first key cities selected by the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs to launch the program.

The summit in Davao is attended by top officials of the Duterte administration and is showcasing #RealNumbers, #RealSolutions, and #RealStories.

Ramon Cualoping III, assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office and chief brand integrator of Rehabinasyon, said the summit aims to provide a review of the government’s achievements for the past two years in solving the country’s drug problem.

He encouraged the stakeholders to continue supporting the campaign saying that Rehabinasyon is “an investment for the future.”

In Bacolod, the campaign against illegal drugs also includes the construction of a PHP35-million drug rehabilitation center in Barangay Alijis. The PHP10-million fund was granted by the Dangerous Drugs Board while the remaining PHP25-million will be shouldered by the city government.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has also selected Bacolod to be the site of the pilot center of “Balay Silangan” for the Visayas.

In July 2017, Bacolod was also the venue of the Philippine celebration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking joined by about 17,000 participants. (PNA)